Any Experience with Frontier Airlines? and Any Advice?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I booked a trip on Frontier last night for my daughter and grandchildren for a ridiculously low price of 26 bucks each way from BUF to Orlando (MCO). So....any experience? What is the catch? Any tips on avoiding the inevitable extra hidden costs.

It comes down to what they're able to do for their customers during a flight disruption. They have no interline agreements with other carriers, so their tickets aren't recognized by other airlines. If their flight is delayed or cancelled due to a mechanical issue with the aircraft or a pilot calling out due to illness, then it's very difficult for them to transport their customers on alternative flights. To get around this, they own a travel agency and the agency books a new ticket for their customer directly with another carrier, but it doesn't always work like it's supposed to.

I would read their Contract of Carriage, which are the terms to which a customer agrees when purchasing a ticket for carriage with them.

I've flown Frontier a couple times. The add-on fees are where they get you.

Best to avoid checking a bag or taking anything that needs to go in the overhead bin. A bag under the seat is free; anything else costs. If there is no way to avoid taking larger items, pay as early as you can.

Don't pay to select a seat unless that's really important to you. That's another fee. Only once (out of 4 flights) did I have to sit in a different row than my traveling companion. Frontier will try to seat folks on the same reservation together, but I don't think they guarantee it unless you pay to choose your seat.

Food and beverage cost as well (~$3 for a can of soda or chips, combine both for slight discount). Pack a snack and buy a drink after you pass thru security.

Frontier does allow you bundle fees (i.e. pay for you bag, carry-on, seat selection, and early boarding). If you need these, you can save money by bundling. Not once have I spent an extra dime on fees, so it is possible to avoid them.

I've found that the airline is pretty good about being on time (in my limited experience). When things go right, it can be an incredibly cheap way to get from point A to point B.

Seats don't recline and have limited leg room. Still for anything 3 hours or less, I will give them a go. Can't beat the price.

You mentioned a point I forgot. If you do need to pay for a bag, combine as much as possible, i.e. only one carry-on/checked bag for 2 or 3 people. Everyone else can use a small backpack/under seat personal item. No sense in paying the fee twice when you could avoid it.

I actually think all plane seats in coach should be "pre-reclined". There really is nothing more uncomfortable than to squeeze yourself into a 31 inch pitch seat and then at altitude have the guy in front of you push the seat all the way back and start to snore.

Just be aware of what you are buying with them. If everything goes OK then you are fine. Any flight disruptions and you are done. My brother got stuck for 24 hours when they had mechanical issues. They had to fight with Frontier for hotel rooms. Read the recent Florence story of the Myrtle Beach cancellation where they bused people to Charlotte and left them on their own to get home. Not worth the risk with their lousy customer service.